Troweling method. Mike Somodean, a floor refinishing contractor based in Roswell, Ga., shows the flexible trowel he uses to apply hardening oil.
Somodean begins by pouring out a puddle of Ciranova oil, spreading it quickly in a broad sweep and working it skillfully to the edges.
Working a section as wide as his arm can sweep, he covers the length of the room (about 18 feet) in about two minutes.
After 10 to 15 minutes of “dwell” time, a crew member comes in behind Mike to further work the oil into the wood with a buffer fitted with a red buffing pad.
After 10 to 15 minutes of “dwell” time, a crew member comes in behind Mike to further work the oil into the wood with a buffer fitted with a red buffing pad.
He changes the red pad out for a white one.
The pad absorbs the excess oil.
The white pad polishes the floor.
The crew works the floor in sections to stay ahead of the oil before it hardens.
Buffing uses less oil, but the red pad will pick up some excess, mostly at the edges. The pad will need to be flipped or replaced as it becomes more difficult to manage.
When the pad is removed from the floor, there is excess left under the pad.
This excess oil must be cleaned up immediately before it hardens.
The final step is to polish the floor with a white pad.
The author feels buffing with pads is the cleanest and most efficient method of applying the oil. However, there is potential for not getting enough oil on the floor, so you need an experienced eye and patient hand to make sure the wood is reaching saturation.
